Index element



March 1 ,1927. v J. H. RAND 1,619760 INDEX ELEMENT Filed Dec. 2.6, 1925 'Aj/feg a BMW/14 Mmmm Lam:

Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

barren srafres Param?V `rrica vULJCES H. RAND, OF NORTH TONAANDA, NEW YQRK, ASSIGNOR T()` RAND KARDEX BUREAU, INC., OF TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION VOF DELAWARE.

INDEX. ELEMENT.

` Application led Beeember 26, 1923. Serial No. 622,642.

This invention relates to index devices of the so called visible type and'consists 1n the novel features hereinafter' described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

y Desirable embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an in dex constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing one desirable arrangement of parts; Y i

Fig. 2 is a front elevation to enlarged scale illustrating one of the index elements removed from the index frame;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section to greatly enlarge scale through the upper part of the index element illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation showing the upper part of a pad forming a portion of the index element before its association with the other member of the index element; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illus trating a different arrangement of the index elements in the frame.

The index is herein disclosed as comprising a frame having a back 1 of sheet metal or other suitable material provided With the lateral inturned flanges 2 and 3 which provide opposed gnide channels for the reception of the index elements. Each index element comprises a supporting rail t and a pad 5 consisting of a plurality of superposed sheets or leaves.

The rail is preferably made in the form of a sheath of thin resilient sheet material, preferably transparent Celluloid. This sheath may be formed by bending a strip of celluloid to provide a rear wall 6 and front wall 7 spaced therefrom. The free edge of the front wall is, furnished with an integral rearwardly directed lip or projection 8.

The pad 5 consists of a plurality of sheets of paper or other suitable material indicated at S, S', S2, S3, etc., the several sheets of the pad being provided near their' upper edges with weakened fold lines produced by creasing or preferably by perforating, as indicated at 9. These fold lines facilitate the folding of the pad at 10 (Fig. 3) to provide the downturned portions 11 to prevent accidental withdrawal of the sheets from the sheath.

The several sheets of the pads are also preferably provided with a weakened fold lline 12, as by perforations or creasing, so

disposed that when the pad is secured in the sheath this second fold line liesv outside the sheath and below the lip 8. The portion of the slip above the fold line 12 constitutes a stub which remains connected to the sheath during the life of the pad, while the portion of each sheet below the fold line `12 may be torn offV for filing in permanent the upper portion of the rear leaf of Veach pad may be provided with suitable distinguishing characteristics or indicia which after the leaves are folded along line 9 will be visible through the front wall of t-he sheath, or if desired a separate index slip may be inserted between such front wall and the upper part of the pad.

As arranged in Fig. 1, the wall 6 of the sheath is disposed against the back 1 of the frame and the indicia appearing at the top of each pad is visible at all times so that any of the pads may be selected instantly and such selected pad may be moved upwardly along the frame relatively to the others to make its several sheets available for entries or other purposes.

In Fig. 5 the frame comprising the back 1EL and Vthe marginal flanges 2n and 3, respec' tively, is furnished with a series of index elements 5r having rails Ll similar to those above described. In this instance, the several index elements are so arranged so that the wall 7 of the sheath is disposed against the back 1a and the lower margins ofthe pads of the series are always visible, so that the indicia appearing upon the tabs at the lower margins of the several sheets may be read without disturbing the position of the individual index elements.

lVhile of very general utility, the device` herein disclosed is particularly well adapted for the keeping of stock records, inventories, ledger entries, etc. which may necessitate a nienioranduin ol' consideralile length or involving several items and which it is desired temporarily to keep in available orni but readily capable of transfer to niore permanent records. The individual index elements V(each comprising a rail and pad) may be reinoved from the frame without disturbing the other index elements while any leaf may be torn oil' alongthe weakened line l2 leaving its stub portion in the sheath; and when all the leaves of the pad have been consunied'a new pad may readily be substituted therefor, using the saine rail as a support. Y

lith this arrangement a large number of sheets or leaves inay be employed in a traine oi given dimensions as the sheets or leaves may be ofJ relatively thin material While the fold line produced by perforating sneh sheets Afurnishes a hinge allowing the sheets to beV turned readily to expose the .sheets lying tothe rear Without adding to the thickness of Jdie index elements would, be Jdie Case were cloth or other hinge structures to be employed.

I claim:

l. An index element comprising` a transparent supporting sheath and a pad of snperposed leaves havingits upper margin enclosed Within the sheath, a lower marginal ,portionbl each leaf of Vthe pad being provided with identifying indicia and indicia upon that portion of the pad disposed within the sheath.

2. An index element (.-omprising a trans Aparent supporting rail having spaced front and rear Walls and ai pad of superposed leaves, one niargin oi the'pad being clamped between the Walls of the sheath, the several leaves being constructed and arranged to be separated one by one by tearing along a pre determined line, that portion of the pad Within the sheath beingA provi-led with identifying indicia.

3. An index element comprising a pad of independent leaves having bent margins, the bent margins of the several leaves nesting one Within another, the individual fes of the pad having index tabs at their free 1nargins, and a sheath enclosing the bent niarginal portions of the leaves.

4. An index element comprising an elongate sheath oi" transparent material having spaced side Walls, a pad of leaves having .indicia adjacent its margin, said margin being disposed between the walls ofthe sheath, the edge or' such marginal portion or' the pad being bent out of the plane of the body oiI the pad, and a lip projecting inwardly freni one wall of the sheath to prevent Withdrawal of the pad from the sheath.

Signed by ine at Boston7 Massachusetts, this 18th day of December, 1923.

JAMES H. RAND. 

